Social media now the primary news source for under 25s
Social media has overtaken traditional search engines to become the primary source of news for under 25s, according to a new study.
The Reuters Institute Digital Report, found that 43% of those aged between 16 and 24 are much more likely to access news through social networks, although this dropped to just 11% for those aged over 45.
Facebook, perhaps unsurprisingly given its market share, is seen as the most important social network for news, accounting for half of all shared news in the UK; significantly ahead of both email (33%) and Twitter (23%).
Report author Nic Newman said: “One in five of our UK sample share news stories each week via email or social networks – but in general Europeans are less enthusiastic than Americans about both the sharing of news and other forms of digital participation.”